The U.S. economy added 178,000 jobs in March, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. That was well above the consensus estimate of 65,000 jobs and was also the highest monthly job growth since December 2024.
Claim 30% Off TipRanks
Forget margin or options. Here's how the pros trade QQQHowever, the U.S. has only added a net 260,000 jobs over the past year. The healthcare sector drove the gains with 380,000 additions, while most of the other sectors have posted losses.
Unemployment Rate Falls Alongside Shrinking Labor Force
For example, federal government jobs fell by 330,000, while the information industry shed 76,000 jobs. The finance industry is also going through a downturn with 67,000 fewer jobs.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.3% in March, registering its lowest level since August 2025. However, much of that can be attributed to a declining labor force and participation rate. That could signal that fewer people are actively looking for work, even as headline job gains appear strong.